Trolltech announced the availability of a new mobile device, which offers a test platform for developers and handset manufacturers. The Qtopia Greenphone is a working GSM/GPRS open Linux mobile device, which is being offered as part of a complete software development kit.

The Qtopic Greenphone won't be coming to a wireless store near you. It is dedicated to assisting developers in creating, modifying, and testing Linux-based mobile applications. The Greenphone also includes a working camera, allowing for even further functionality testing. The phone is set to be available in mid-September.

I've never thought of it, but I suppose developers of mobile Linux-based applications do need their own lab mouse. It seems the Qtopic Greenphone will serve that purpose nicely. Itís very interesting to hear about a new cellphone that will never see the commercial light of day. One can't deny the effect it may have on new applications being developed for Linux-based phones, though.

Go Linux(8:57am EST Wed Aug 16 2006)Go Linux and open source, royalty free, correct? Probably more secure than windows based phones too without the need to pay so much cash to MS for the OS. – by Regulas

Windows based . . .(4:54pm EST Wed Aug 16 2006)would of been more secure and better. – by linuxnub

Hey idiot linuxnub(10:34pm EST Wed Aug 16 2006)Linux is much more secure. 99.9% of the 200,000 malware can't be all wrong, they picked Windows. – by linux is secure

You can already but a lot of Linux phones from Motorola(3:07pm EST Thu Aug 17 2006)They have more Linux models of cellphones than they offer for Windows. Motorola had one Symbian phone but dropped it. – by moto